Illuminating apparatus



M. PENNYBACKER 2,304,594

ILLUMINA'I'ING APPARATUS I 1 Filed Aug. 13, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: Mlles Pennybar/(c/r ATTORNEYQS Dec. 8, 1942- M. PENNYBACKER ILLUMINATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 13, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r m M W R 0 n T 6 P ATTORNEYS aiented ee. i942 UNHTED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

2,304,594 ILLUMINATING arrana'ros Miles Pennybacker, West Orange, N. J.

Application August 13, 1940, Serial No. 352,355-

2 Claims.

Another object of the invention is to provide a luminous tube lighting structure having one or more pairs of inverted electrode sockets in which the electrodes are disposed and in which the center of gravity of the tubing elements "is below the sockets.

Another object is to provide a luminous tube lighting fixture in which the electrode sockets are open upward and the luminous tubing extends from the socket outward and downward. whereby a portion of the light is directed above the fixture, a portion laterally, and aportion downward.

A further object is to provide a luminous tube lighting fixture in which a maximum amount of the emitted light is made available for useful illumination over a desired field.

Another object is to provide a lighting fixture of the above type which may be readily assembled, disassembled, and transported, and in which all tube terminals, transformers and wiring are fastened to and entirely supported from a top plate so that the sides and bottom may be free from holes and readily removable from the top Figure 3 is a plan view of a second embodl-' ment;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the same on the line H, Figure 3;

Figure 5 isa plan view of a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 isa side elevation of the same; and

Figure '7 is a detail view of a tubing unit illustrating the re-entrant electrodes characteristic of tube units of the type used in these fixtures.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral l0 designates a bowl-shaped casing. A plate ll, forming the top of the casing i0, is secured in any-"suitable manner, for example by means of small screws l2 extending through tabs i3 welded or otherwise fastened to the inside of the casing. Notches H in the plate ii permit the latter to be dropped past the tabs l3, then revolved to fastening position as shown in Figure 1.

A transformer i5 is secured to the bottom of i the plate II. Mounting means of any desired type, herein shown as a pipe socket l6, may be secured to the top of the plate. The primary wires l1 and ill of the transformer l5 are brought out through the socket l6 and the supporting pipe l9 screwed therein.

A plurality of pairs of electrode sockets 20, 2!, 22 and 23 are secured in the plate H, in circumferentially spaced relation, and are adapted to cooperate respectively with luminous tubing units 24, 25, 26 and 21.

Each tubing unit in preferred form, forexample unit 24, comprises a single tube length having inverted terminal electrodes 28 and leg portions 29 and 30 directed outwardly and downwardly from the electrodes so that the center of gravity of the unit is below the sockets 20.

The electrodes 28 are re-entrant-that is, directed inwardly with respect to the general pattern of the tubing unit instead of outward there- 1 from as in the usual construction of luminous ter ofthe casing l0, carries on its lower end a small spider 41, of insulating material, surmounted by a glass bushing 48. The tube units 24, 25, 26 and 21 are so proportioned that when suspended in the sockets 20, 2|, etc., as described above, the lower portions of the units bear inwardly against the bushing 48, the spider 41 maintaining'them in spaced relation but not supporting their weight.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the units 24, 25, etc.; are held in position entirely by gravity without requirement for any fastening means, and the support of the tubing weight on the electrode terminals assures good U-shape. 1

laterally. 1.

electrical contact at all times. In normal assembly, the units 24, 25, etc., are simply lifted to bring their electrodes above the sockets 20, 2|, etc., and lowered into place as shown. Similarly, ii! any unit needs replacement, re-pumping, etc., removal and replacement is quickly and readily carried out without the use of tools and without disturbing other units.

In the type illustrated, the outer leg portions 29 of the tour tubing units are bent in stepped or zig-zagshape, this structure giving a large eiiective illuminating length and area in relatively small space, as well as presenting an attractive appearance.

However, the device is not limited to this exact number or shape or tubing units, since obviously any suitable number oi units may beused and the tubing may be bent with any desired contour so long as the proper relationship between electrodes and centers of gravity are maintained as described."

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an application the invention especially adapted to elongated lightiacent the sides of the casing. The tubing units 35 areiormed with their reentra'nt' electrodes '36 directed downwardly and spaced to register with andhang in corresponding pairs of sockets 34.,

- Thistype of unit is preferably symmetrical laterally and may have any desired shape, herein i1- lustrated as a substantially square-bottomed As in the case of Figures 1 and 2, the centers I of gravity of the units 35 normally are below the contact portions of the sockets 34, so that the 7 units hang vertically on their electrodes without iastenings or braces and'maintain good elec- 1 trical 'contact by-gravity, as previously set forth.

However, with this type as well as the others illus trated, when it maybe desired in order to assure against vibration or'when the fixture is to be used in inverted positionas in certain low level installations, fastening means of any wellknown'type may be used to secure the electrodes "in 'their'sockets; I

" 'The fixtu're' may be aslong and {employ as many 'units 35 asdesiredi'a suitable transformer or "transformers 3]- being securedto the bottom "of plat'e'33and 'connectedtothe electrode sockets -14; in-theLus'uaI manner, asby means of high -tensionconducto'rs" 38; 'It-is obvious that if de- :sired the pairsof 'electrode sockets 34 may be arranged across the ends oi the trough 'instead or along the-sides, in case it is desired to employ 'tubing'units' disposed longitudinally instead or Figures 5 and iormythe'inverted electrodes 40 are spaced fairly close'togetl -er,andWhen-theelectrodes are inserted in corresponding'pairs of upwardly openingsockets 4| in the "plate 42,1eafih symmetrical iinit 3'9 hangsclear-ofthe'convex exterior of the thereby maintaining; a position of' stable' equilibrium withoutfthe necessity of additional fasng meansp'y Referring to Figure 7' fagl'ass"bracemember 44 6 illustrate a form of the inven- *tiOn incorporatingtubing units 39- having the 1 general structure shown in Figure -'I. Inthis fixture, preventing heavy shadow spots on the is secured between the sides of unit 39 adjacent the electrodes 40, preferably by means of nonconducting cord 45 such as spun glass. The use of non-conducting cord, such as spun glass, avoids the formation of darkened spots common to tubing in contact with the usual wire fastening.

The above cross bracing structure, which obviously may be similarly applied to various forms illustrated, renders the tubing units strong and rigid, thus adding to the ease and safety of handling, shipping and assembling. The ease and safety of packing and shipping is further augmented by the fact that in all forms illustrated, the tubing units may be made uniplanar, that is, with all bends in a single plane. While, as previously noted, in normal applications the individual tubing units hang entirely independently of each other, in installations involving heavy vibration or swinging, such as on shipboard, in-

terbracing between units may be applied by means of braces similar to brace 44, or the like.

In all forms, especially as illustrated in Figure 2, the considerable amount of tubing extending outwardly from above there-entrant electrodes allows for large upward illumination above the ceiling, while the inwardly extendinglower portions similarly prevent shadows on the floor. Thus, it will be seen that the invention provides for a highly advantageous distribution of illumination upward and downward as well as laterally, better than is obtained with straight tubes spaced parallel to one another, illustrating that the use of re-entrant electrodes permits exposure directly of amaximum amount of the tube surfaces for illumination in any desired direction. For example, the proportion of illumination above the fixture may be made relatively great by extending the tubing a substantial distance upward from inverted electrodes, as shown in Fi ures 2 andf6."

The plates H, 33 and 42, Figures '1, 3 and'S,

' may be provided with any desired number of ventilating openings 46;

Obviously, the fixtures may be constructed with reflecting surfaces, and the use of the con-- cealed re -entrant electrodes permit such surfaces to be. provided behind substantially the entire eflective lengths of the tubing units without holes or other interruptions of the reflecting surfaces,

Luminous", havejgreatest efliciency and lifefwhen employing long lengths of tubing,

and it willbe seen t e with the present invention theifixtureiisa'dapted. to receive compara- "ti vely long tubinglengtha for example iour'feet and more withoutthe fixture itself havingvnearlyjsogreat a dimension in any direction.v The tubing units may be made in standardizedtypes,

each-type Of which may be usedwith one or more types offixtures. 'Ihe effect of various combinations-as herein. illustrated, permits a much more decorative ,efiect. than the straight tubing heretofore widely. used in. illuminating devices, and no external difiusing means is required.

. While-the inventionhas been described in preferred forms, it is not limited to the exact structurejllustrated, as various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appendeclclaims. 7

combination,

ing, and a plurality of luminous tubing units each having a pair of downwardly directed electrodes engaging sockets in said rows and tubing portions extending upwardly and outwardly from said electrodes, downwardly beside said casing,

and across underneath said casing. the centers of gravity of said units being below said electrode sockets.

2. In an illuminating device. in combination, a 

